Boot package



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BOOT PACKAGE Filed April 17, 1952 JOHN S. JUSTIN JR.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent BOOT PACKAGE John S. Justin, Jr., Fort Worth, Tex.

Application April 17, 1952, Serial No. 282,823

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) This invention relates to packaging cowboy boots and has particular reference to a liner for boxes or containers for shipping and storing such boots.

An object of the invention is to provide a spacer for the described purpose capable of preventing the boots from rubbing against each other and to prevent the boot legs from becoming creased or closed during shipping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liner of the described class whereby a box of a standard size may be used for shipping boots of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liner for the described purpose which, in addition to the foregoing objects, will reinforce the box or container in which it is used.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a liner embodying the features of the invention and showing, by means of dotted lines, the relative position of the liner in a container or box.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the liner in its unfolded or blank form.

Figure 3 is a broken side elevation of the liner in its assembled position and showing one of the leg spacers arranged for engaging the inside of a boot leg to prevent the same from collapsing during shipping.

In the drawings, the numeral generally designates a rectangular box or container of paper stock or the like. The liner shown includes a rectangular panel 11 of a size slightly less than the inside dimensions of the box 10 and has relatively narrow flanges 12 on all four sides thereof for spacing the panel from the bottom of the box. The flanges 12 are folded downwardly along weakened lines 13 defining the outside dimensions of the panel 11.

The boots 14 to be packed are arranged with their soles 15 in opposite ends of the box 10 with the toes thereof arranged in opposite directions so that the boot legs 16 are in spaced side by side relation. Near the end and side of the panel 12, and opposite the heel 17 of the boot 14 to be held, there is a cutout folded leg spacer 18 adapted to fit downwardly into each boot leg 16. The spacer 18 is formed by cutting the panel 11 along parallel lines 1? and across one end thereof, as at 20, and by leaving small connected uncut lengths 21 at the corners thus formed. The uncut lengths 21 provide frangible holding means which prevent the leg spacers 18 from being cumbersome before the spacers 18 are folded for use. The ends of the parallel lines 19 opposite the connecting line 20 are similarly provided with straight continuing uncut lengths 22 which provide for accommodating boots 14 having different leg lengths. Intermediate the end of each unfolded leg spacer 18 there is an imaginary bend line, indicated by the numeral 23 along which the partially detached leg spacer is bent to form the described leg holder and spacer 18. The position referred to is carried out by means of a tongue 24 cut in the free end of the leg spacer 18 and having a notched free end of the leg spacer l8 and having a notched free end 25 for engagement in a transverse slot 26 in that porill 2,709,518 Patented May 31, 1955 ice tion of the leg spacer 18 opposite the torque when the spacer is bent positioned in the described slot. Preferably, the slot 26 in the form of a tab 27 has angular corners 28 defined to engage the notches 29 on each side of the free end of the tongue 24. Thus, the described folded positions of the leg spacers 18 may be maintained by inserting and engaging the tongues 24 in the slot 26.

Cut outs Sit are provided in the panels 11 opposite the free ends of the leg spacers 18 for raising the engaging sides of the boot soles 15, and which slots are shaped to conform therewith. Cuts 31 are formed in the panel 11 between the boot sole receiving slots 30 and the adjacent ends of the panel so as to provide the slots with short uncut lengths 32 as described in connection with the uncut lengths 22 of the leg spacers 18. The last referred to construction of cuts 31 and uncut lengths 32 have to do with accommodating boots having legs 16 of such lengths that the additional distance is required for accommodating the sides of the boot soles 15, and, in which event, the area 33 of the panel 11 is bent downwardly so as to accommodate such larger size boots. As shown in Figure I, one of the last referred to panel areas 33 is partially bent to show the last referred to means for accommodating boots of greater lengths.

in operation, a blank form, such as shown in Figure 2, is placed in the container 10 after first folding the flanges 12 downwardly. The leg spacers 18 are detached and folded along the bend line 23 and the tongues 24 are inserted in the slots 26 either before or after the panel in the box It). The length of each leg spacer detached depends upon the length of the leg of the boot to be packed, and a corresponding number of uncut lengths 22 are broken so as to engage only the top portions of the boot legs 16. The projecting sides of the boot soles 15 are engaged in the sole receiving slots 30 and the box or container 10 is closed in the usual manner. It will be noted that the folded leg spacers 18 prevent the boot legs 16 from collapsing during shipping and handling, and that the described engagement of the boot soles 15 with the slots 3i) prevents longitudinal movement of the boots. Thus, no extraneous packing material, such as wadded tissue, is required. The boots are, by reason of the spacers in the legs 16, prevented from rubbing against each other.

The invention is not limited to the construction herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rectangular packing box for boots wherein the boots received therein are arranged with their legs substantially parallel with each other and wherein the toe of each boot is arranged over and spaced from the opening of the leg of the accompanying said boot, a rectangular panel of flexible sheet material received within said box, the upper surface of said panel being spaced from the bottom of said box, rectangular spacers cut along the sides thereof from said panel and having a remaining end integral with said panel; said integral ends being located opposite the open ends of the boot legs, and each said spacer being transversely bent more than and received within said bootleg.

2. A rectangular packing box for boots as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein a tongue projects from the extending end of each said spacer and. is received within a slot formed through said spacer at a location between the integral end thereof and said tongue.

3. A packing box for boots as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein said panel includes slots therethrough located to receive the sides of the boot soles when said spacers are positioned within the legs of said boots.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meyer Jan. 3, 1922 Russell July 5, 1932 K0ndo1f Mar. 29, 1938 Chittum June, 4, 194-6 4 Davis et a1. June 13, 1950 Frankenstein Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 31, 1932 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1937 

